CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland International Piano Competition will overhaul its Young Artists Competition next year to increase the event's profile and more closely resemble the adult contest for which it is famous worldwide.

In an announcement released Thursday, the organization said that next year's contest at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea will expand to a full-length competition spanning nine days and open to young pianists around the world.

Like the main CIPC, the new Young Artist Competition will follow a multi-round format and culminate in a final round with orchestra. Participants ages 12 to 15 will compete as juniors, while pianists ages 16 to 18 will be considered seniors.

All 25 initial contestants will perform two solo rounds before the first vote by a seven-member, international jury chaired by Paul Schenly of the Cleveland Institute of Music. Six pianists from each age group will then advance to a semi-final solo round.

After that, two candidates from each age group will be selected to take part in the final round. The final round will feature a single concerto movement in collaboration with the Cleveland International Piano Competition Orchestra.

Detailed rules with regard to repertoire will ensure each candidate presents a broad array of music.

Finalists in both age groups will receive cash prizes. For seniors, the top three awards will be $25,000, $10,000 and $5,000. For juniors, the awards will be $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500.

In addition, an institute will be held in conjunction with the competition, featuring master classes and coaching for the contestants as well as guest artist recitals and conversations.

Dates of the 2015 contest are May 13-22. For more information and detailed audition requirements, go to clevelandpiano.org.

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